Visor

ABSTRACT

A visor for use in a vehicle is disclosed. The visor comprises a pivot rod and a carrier arranged over the pivot rod. The visor also comprises a first and second shell being engagable to form a visor body and a vanity arranged therein. The visor also comprises a light base secured to the second shell and a circuit board engaging the light base. The visor also comprises a light emitting diode secured to a surface of the circuit board.

This application is a continuation of pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/996,530—filed Jan. 15, 2016

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a sun visor for interior usein a vehicle, and more particularly relates to a sun visor, having avisor body that includes a vanity having a light emitting diode (LED) toprovide light therefore.

2. Description of Related Art

Sun visors are well known and widely used in the prior art. Manydifferent types and designs have been successfully employed in vehiclesover the years. Many of these prior art visors have been developed in avariety of ways through which visor bodies and other interior componentsmay be constructed and mounted within a vehicle. Advances in design mayoften add complexities to the manufacturing processes for interiorcomponents. There has been and continues to be a premium in theautomotive industry on cost savings, weight reduction, and improvementsin the efficiency and speed in the manufacturing processes for suchcomponents therein. One area of particular focus in the automobiletechnology field has been reducing the number and the complexity ofsteps required to assemble interior components such as sun visors orvisors for use in a vehicle.

Generally, in the prior art, manufacturing simplicity continues to driveinnovations in the automotive industry, loss of quality and performancein manufactured interior components for the sake of facilitatingproduction is seldom, if ever acceptable. There is a substantial body ofprior art relating to the specific structure of the visor to provide astrong, lightweight construction that matches or compliments the vehicleinterior trim in a cost effective manner. Of particular interest hasbeen the “clamshell” type construction, which involves the molding oftwo shell pieces or clamshell halves, which are joined to form thevisor. In one typical clamshell design, the visor halves are formed as asingle piece attached along a longitudinal edge, and then folded to formthe visor body. The exterior surface can be molded to provide a suitablevisor surface, or a desired outer covering may be added in a variety ofways known in the prior art.

The clamshell design allows the visor body to be constructed relativelyquickly and easily, however, the various components that are attached tothe visor clamshell halves must in some cases be incorporated withseveral assembly steps prior to securing the clamshell halves together.For example, several known designs require insertion of additionalmounting or journaling pieces for retention of the visor pivot rodwithin the visor body. The construction of visors having such a designis relatively time-intensive. Moreover, the various slides, journals,retainers, etc., utilized in the construction may add significantexpense and weight to the overall visor, along with unwanted noise, andincrease the number of components necessary to build one therein. Manyof these prior art visors use standard light bulbs, such as incandescentbulbs to provide light for either a vanity which includes a mirrorarranged within the visor, or for a map light that is sometimes arrangedwithin the visor. The use of the incandescent bulb draws more currentand power than that of newer technologies, such as a LED bulb.

In come cases, eliminating parts may reduce the expense of manufacturingand constructing the visor. Decreasing size and weight, however, can beaccompanied by decreases in strength. Furthermore, the visors thatattempt to change well accepted technology, like incandescent lightbulbs with new technology, such as a LED, may run into problems withconsumers and users of the vehicle not accepting the look and feel ofthe light emitted by an LED versus that of a light emitted by anincandescent prior art light bulb. The use of new technology, such as aLED over a prior art light bulb, may increase the efficiency and reducemanufacturing assembly times for visors in the automotive and othervehicular art. Hence, it is desirable in the art to provide a visor thatis light weight, easy to manufacture and uses relatively few components,yet utilizes a design imparting significant durability to withstandheavy and repeated use and to provide a solid construction with tighttolerances throughout the entire system. Furthermore, there is a need inthe art for an improved visor that has a LED lighted vanity and/or maplight arranged therein. There also is a need in the art for a sun visorthat uses a variety of methods of aligning a LED with a lens for use inthe vanity or a LED used in conjunction with a light guide in a vanityto provide a more even appearance and distribute the light in a moreaesthetic pleasing fashion than prior art light bulbs. There also is aneed in the art for a vanity that may use one light to light both sidesof a vanity mirror through the use of a light guide system arrangedtherein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention may be that it provides an improvedvisor.

Another object of the present invention may be that it provides a visorthat has a light emitting diode (LED) for use in illuminating a mirrorof a vanity.

Yet a further object of the present invention may be that it provides avisor that uses a LED as a direct replacement for a prior art lightbulb.

Still another object of the present invention may be that it provides avisor that uses a LED as the light source along with a light guide toilluminate a vanity mirror in a visor.

Still another object of the present invention may be that it provides avisor that includes a light base that is capable of holding a circuitboard having a LED thereon in either a horizontal or vertical position.

Yet another object of the present invention may be that it provides avisor that has a map light that is illuminated with a LED.

Still another object of the present invention may be that it provides avisor that includes a wire arranged between a circuit board and theelectrical system of the vehicle to provide LED lighting in a visorvanity.

Still another object of the present invention may be to provide a visorthat is easier to manufacture and more efficient through the use of aLED lighted vanity.

Still another object of the present invention may be that it provides avisor that is more robust and includes a lighting system that is morereliable and longer lasting than prior art lighting systems.

Yet another object of the present invention may be that it provides avisor that has a frameless vanity with a mirror having clear ends onboth ends thereof.

Still another object of the present invention may be that it provides avisor having an LED with a mirror with clear ends arranged at each endthereof.

According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects andadvantages are obtained by a novel design for a visor for use in avehicle. The visor generally comprises a pivot rod and a carrierarranged over the pivot rod. The visor further comprises a first andsecond shell engagable to form a visor a body. The visor also comprisesa vanity arranged within the visor body. The visor further comprises alight base secured to the second shell of the visor body and a circuitboard engaging the light base. The visor also comprises a light emittingdiode secured to a surface of the circuit board.

One advantage of the present invention may be that it provides for animproved visor.

A further advantage of the present invention may be that it provides fora visor that uses a LED as the light source for a vanity.

Yet another advantage of the present invention may be that it providesfor a direct replacement of a prior art light bulb with a LED arrangedon a circuit board for a vanity in a visor.

Yet another advantage of the present invention may be that it providesfor a light base for use in a visor that is capable of holding a LEDarranged on a circuit board in either a vertical or horizontal positionrelative to the visor body.

Still another advantage of the present invention may be that it providesa visor that uses a LED in conjunction with a light guide to provideillumination for a vanity.

Still another advantage of the present invention may be that it providesa visor that uses a light base to align a LED in proper position withrespect to a vanity therein.

Still another advantage of the present invention may be that it providesa visor that replaces prior art light bulbs with more energy efficient,reliable and longer lasting LED light sources.

Still another advantage of the present invention may be that it providesfor a visor that is easier to manufacture and more robust than prior artvisors.

Still another advantage of the present invention may be that it providesfor a visor that includes a frameless vanity having a mirror with clearends on both ends thereof.

Yet another advantage of the present invention may be that it provides avisor that uses a LED in conjunction with a mirror having clear ends foruse in illuminating the mirror.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the subsequent description and appended claims,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a visor according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a cross section of a visor according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 shows a cross section of a visor according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a circuit board and LED for use in a visor.

FIG. 5 shows a top view of a light base for use in a visor according tothe present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of a light base for a visor according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 shows a section view of a visor according to an alternateembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a section view of a visor according to an alternateembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a section of a visor according to an alternate embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows a top view of a light base according to an alternateembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows a light base with a circuit board arranged thereinaccording to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows a light base according to an alternate embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 13 shows a plan view of a light base according to an alternateembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 shows a section view of a light base according to an alternateembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 shows a top view of a light base according to an alternateembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 shows a top view of a visor shell according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 17 shows a plan view of an alternate embodiment of a light baseaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 18 shows an exploded view of a vanity according to an alternateembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 shows a view of a visor according to an alternate embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 20 shows a view of a visor according to an alternate embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 21 shows a top view of a frame of a vanity for use in a visoraccording to the present invention.

FIG. 22 shows a vanity lens for use according to the present invention.

FIG. 23 shows a vanity for use according to an alternate embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 24 shows a vanity for use in an alternate embodiment according tothe present invention.

FIG. 25 shows a map light arranged in a visor according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 26 shows a map light arranged in a visor according to an alternateembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 shows a map light arranged in a visor according to an alternateembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 shows a LED attached to a circuit board according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 29 shows a plan view of a visor according to an alternateembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30 shows a top view of a visor according to an alternate embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 31 shows a top view of a visor according to an alternate embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 32 shows a back view of a visor according to an alternateembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 33 shows a cross sectional view of a visor according to analternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 34 shows a plan view of a visor according to an alternateembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 35 shows a top view of a visor according to an alternate embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 36 shows a top view of a visor according to an alternate embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 37 shows a cross sectional view of a visor according to analternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 38 shows a cross sectional view of a visor according to analternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 39 shows a bottom view of a visor according to an alternateembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 40 shows a bottom view of a visor according to an alternateembodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a visor 30 according to anembodiment of the present invention. Generally, the present inventionbroadly provides a clam shell type vehicle sun visor 30 having a pivotrod 32 mounted to a carrier 34, wherein the pivot rod 32 and carrier 34are slidably captured during assembly with the single step of attachingvisor shell portions 36,38 together. The carrier 34 thus rides in thevisor body 42 itself rather than a separate carrier and is preferablyretained between surfaces and/or features, such as channels 40 moldedintegrally within the shell portions 36,38. Similarly, the pivot rod 32rides in the visor body 42, and a separate bracket, bezel or similarpiece is not necessary to support the pivot rod 32. Related aspects ofthe present invention include methods for manufacturing a sun visor 30also described herein. Furthermore, it should be noted that the visor 30as shown in the present application can be used in any known type ofvehicle, such as but not limited to, automotive vehicles, maritimevehicles, aerospace vehicles, military vehicles and any other knownvehicle that has a need for the sun to be blocked from filtering intothe interior compartment of the vehicle. It should also be noted thatgenerally all of the components of the visor 30, according to thepresent invention, may be made of a plastic material that is capable ofeither being extruded, molded or shaped by any known manufacturingprocess. However, any other known metal, ceramic, plastic, composite,natural material or any other known material may also be used for any ofthe parts or components of the visor 30 described herein, Furthermore,it should be noted that the visor 30 of the present invention may be anyknown type of visor, such as a sliding visor, a non-sliding visor, amoveable visor, or any other type of visor known in the vehicleindustry.

In one embodiment shown in the Figures, the visor 30 includes first 36and second shell 38 halves or shells which are engageable to form anelongate visor body 42. Various molded features 48 may be included oneach shell 36,38 to facilitate engagement of the shells. For example,complementary structures may be formed on the respective visor shells36, 38 that allow a snap-fit therebetween. In one contemplatedembodiment, the shells 36,38 may be formed having integral or connectedlongitudinal peripheral edges 44,46 and, respectively. Other embodimentsare contemplated in which shells are formed as separate, unconnectedmembers. Although connected shells are preferred, the visor 30 has shownin the Figures may have unconnected shells also. The visor 30 furthermay include a pivot rod 32 that is arranged into one end of the visorbody 42 and connect on the opposite end to a headliner or roof of thevehicle into which the sun visor 30 is arranged. The visor 30 ispreferably formed such that the shells 36,38 may be closed about pivotrod 32 and as such capture the pivot rod 32 therebetween in a singleassembly step. Also, the visor 30 may include a carrier 34 which isslidably captured by the closure or engagement of the shells 36,38,slidably securing the carrier between the shells 36,38 without the needfor installation of an internal slide member, retainer or similarmechanism for mounting the pivot rod 32. All the component parts of thevisor 30 may be manufactured from any known materials and by knownprocesses, such as but not limited to, any type of plastic, metal,ceramic, composite, natural material or any other known material, and byany type of molding technique, forming technique, chemical andmechanical process to design and make the components as describedherein.

Generally, the shells 36,38 are formed by injection molding a plasticmaterial in a conventional manner. For example, the shells 36,38 may beformed from a molded polyethylene, or by some other suitable methodand/or material. The first 36 and second shells 38 generally includeretaining surfaces in any known shape, such as arcuate retainingsurfaces, flat or angled retaining surfaces, all of which may beelongate or trough shaped surfaces extending parallel to an edge of avisor shells and defining a portion of a cylinder or wall. It shouldfurther be appreciated that the present invention may encompass designswith retaining surfaces that vary in dimension between longer,trough-shaped features and more narrow arcuate ledges as shown. Itshould further be noted that an arcuate pair of surfaces may be alignednear one end of the visor shells 36,38 to allow for the pivot rod 32 tobe properly supported and capable of rotating and sliding with relationto the visor body 42. The visor half shells 36,38 also may have achannel formed near one edge thereof, wherein the channel may have afirst and second bearing surface. These bearing surfaces may be arrangedat any known angle with relation to a center line of the visor body 42.In one contemplated embodiment, these angled surfaces may be arranged oneach side of a channel that extends a predetermined distance along alongitudinal axis of the visor body 42 and these angled surfaces may beany approximate angle with relation to a center line of the visor body42. It should be noted that these angled bearing surfaces may bearranged on each inner surface thereof. It should also be noted that thevisor half shells 36, 38 may include other surfaces that receive andhold various components of the sliding visor 36, such as but not limitedto the pivot rod 32, a D-ring, a vanity 66, and covering material 52arranged over the visor body 36 to complete assembly thereof.

The shell halves 36,38 that form the visor body 42 of the visor 30according to the present invention also may include a plurality ofhybrid snap and ultrasonic weld joints. In one contemplated embodiment,a plurality of profile snaps may be arranged around the front edge andthe side edges of the arcuate shells of the visor shells 36,38. One ofthe shells may have the male portion of the profile snap while the othershell may have the female portion, which receives the male portion andholds the first shell to the second shell in order to provide robust,zero flex interface between the two half shells 36,38 to form a robustvisor body 42. These snaps, which are arranged around the outer profile,may allow for enough flex for the front edge and side edges to allow fora tucking process to occur as described hereafter. The visor body 42 mayalso include at least one weld bar joint and at least one weld bossjoint arranged at a predetermined position on the visor body 42. Itshould be noted that other contemplated methodologies and fasteners maybe used to secure the two visor shell halves 36,38 to one another, andit is also contemplated that the visor 30 is formed as one single bodymember and not of two separate shell halves.

One of the shell halves also may include a predetermined shaped orificeor cavity 54 on an outer surface thereof that may be used to receive andsecure a vanity 66 to the visor body 42. The orifice or cavity 54 forreceiving a vanity 66 may include a plurality of locking surfaces orlocking arms that may interact with locking surfaces or flanges of aframe 50 of the vanity 66 to ensure the vanity 66 is secured to theouter surface of one of the shells of the visor body 42. These lockingsurfaces and fingers may take any known shape and are arranged such thatboth illuminated and non-illuminated visor vanities may be arrangedtherein. Other surfaces may also be molded into the visor half shells36,38 to allow for placement of wires 58 to illuminate a visor vanitymirror 60 or to receive a universal garage door opener or othercomponent directly into the visor body 42. The visor half shells 36,38according to the present invention, may also include a plurality ofteeth 62 arranged around an outer periphery of the front edge and sideedges of each of the shell halves 36,38. These teeth 62 generally have apyramidal or triangular like shape tooth and may either be directlyaligned with one another from each half shell or offset with one anotherfrom each half shell, depending on the design requirements and thetucking process to be used. This use of the teeth 62 to form a tuck edgeand to have the cover material 52 placed by a tuck edge process intoengagement with the teeth may create an aesthetically pleasing visorbody 42 having a crisp and clean outer cover material 52 arrangedthereover. It should be noted that in one contemplated embodiment thecover material 52 may be formed in the shape of a sock, wherein the sockis arranged over one end of the visor body 42 then the tuck process isused to create the clean front edge and side edges of the visor 30.However, any other known tuck process and cover material 52 that is notin the form of a sock may also be used depending on the designrequirements and the visor 30 being created.

The visor 30, according to the present invention, may also include aD-ring secured to the visor body 42 on a top edge thereof. The D-ringmay be any known D-ring. The D-ring of the present invention maypartially assist in holding the cover material 52 in a taught, cleanmanner over the outer surface of the visor half shells 36,38 formed intoa visor body 42. It should be noted that any shape may be used for theD-ring body and D-ring pin associated therewith. The visor 30 mayinclude a pivot rod 32 which is attached at one end to a bracket orconnector which is secured to the headliner or roof of a vehicle. Thebracket may have a connector secured thereto to connect the electricalsystem of the vehicle via a wire 58 to the bracket, the wire 58 is thenpassed through the pivot rod 32, which generally is hollow according tothe present invention. However, it should be noted that a solid pivotrod 32 may be used, as long as it will be capable of passing electricitytherethrough to allow for illumination of the vanity mirror 60 ifnecessary or map light 64. The bracket may be secured to the roof of thevehicle via fasteners or any other known methodology. The bracket mayinclude an orifice that will receive one end of the pivot rod 32 near anelbow of the pivot rod 32, wherein the pivot rod 32 generally has anangle of 60°-120° at the elbow. The pivot rod 32 may be secured andcapable of rotation within the orifice of the bracket and may also beswung between a front windshield of the vehicle and a side window of thevehicle to block the sun from any angle. The pivot rod 32 may be of anyknown length and diameter depending on the design of the visor 30 andthe automobile into which it is arranged. The wire 58 may be connectedfrom the electrical system of the automobile and is passed through to aLED 64 for illumination of a visor mirror 60 in the vanity 66. It shouldbe noted that the visor 30, pivot rod 32 and bracket may be made of anyknown material, such as but not limited to plastic, ceramic, composites,metals, or natural material, etc.

The visor pivot rod 32 is arranged within a carrier 34 that is arrangedwithin the visor body 42. The carrier 34 is capable of slidable movementif the visor 36 is a sliding visor. If the visor 30 is not a slidingvisor, the carrier 34 is fixed with respect to the visor body 42. In thesliding visor the carrier 34 may slide within a channel 68 of the visorbody 42 to allow for the visor 30 to be extended out towards an end ofthe visor rod 32 secured within the visor body 42. Any known carrier 34may be used to secure the pivot rod 32 to the visor body 42, such as butnot limited to a floating carrier, a fixed carrier or any other knowncarrier associated with a visor 32 rod and visor body 42.

The visor 30 may also include a wire routing system that passes a wire58 from the bracket through the pivot rod 32 to the LED 64 vanity lightfor illumination of a vanity mirror 60 therein. Any known wire routingsystem may be used to pass the wire 58 through the visor body 42 to acircuit board 70 used to control and operate an LED 64 thereon. Itshould further be noted that it is also contemplated to use an onboardelectric source to illuminate the LED 64 of the vanity 66 for the visor30.

The visor 30 also may include a vanity 66. The vanity 66 generallyincludes a vanity door 72, door springs, a vanity spring, and a vanitymirror 60, with optional lights arranged thereon. If the vanity 66 isilluminated, the vanity 66 may also include at least one lens 74 todisperse light in a predetermined manner. In another contemplatedembodiment, the vanity frame 50 may include two lens 74, one arranged oneach side of the vanity 66 to illuminate the mirror 60. The vanity frame50 generally may include at least one, but in the embodiment shown, twoconnecting flanges arranged near or at a bottom surface of the vanityframe 50. The opposite end of the vanity frame 50 may have arrangedtherein at least one locking shoulder or surface that may interact withlocking tabs arranged on a surface of one of the visor shell halves36,38. This may allow for the vanity frame 50 and vanity 66 to besecured to the visor body 42 without fasteners, such as screws, etc.However, it should be noted that another embodiment may use fastenersand screws to connect the vanity frame 50 to the visor body 42. Onecontemplated embodiment may create a snap in vanity 66. Generally, thevanity frame 50 and door 72 may have a rectangular or oval shape,however any other shaped vanity 66 may be used depending on the designrequirements of the visor 30. The vanity 66 and frame 50 may alsoinclude a flex hook arranged at one end thereof and a leaf springarranged on an opposite edge of the orifice defined in the middle of thevanity frame 50. Adjacent to the leaf spring may be one or two lockingtabs. This combination of the flex hook, leaf spring and locking tabsalong with lens tabs that are used to secure the lens 74 to the vanityframe 50, may be used to secure a mirror 60 into a flexible interfacewithout adhesives. In operation, the mirror 60 is placed under the flexhook and then snapped under the locking tabs and against the leaf springto secure the mirror 60 without adhesives to the vanity frame 50.However, it is also contemplated to secure the mirror 60 to the vanityframe 50 with adhesives or any other methodology. The lens tabs,generally which are arranged on either side of the vanity frame 50 maykeep the vanity mirror 60 positioned properly in a side to sidedirection with relation to the vanity frame 50. Hence, the vanity mirror60, which may be of any shape, size or thickness, may be held in placeto the vanity frame 50 without adhesives, which are generally used tohold a vanity mirror 60 to a frame 50 in the prior art. It should benoted that any number of leaf springs, locking tabs and flex hooks maybe used to hold the vanity mirror 60 according to the present invention.The vanity frame 50 may be inserted into the visor body 42 by securing afirst and second flange arranged near one end of the vanity frame 50underneath inboard hooks that are molded into an outer surface of one ofthe core visor body half shells 36,38. These flanges may be arrangedunder these inboard hooks and then the opposite end of the vanity frame50 may be snapped into place with a downward force, such that thelocking shoulders or surfaces of the vanity frame 50 may interact withthe locking tabs or snaps molded onto and into the visor half shell36,38 in an outer surface thereof. This may secure the vanity 66 intothe visor body 42 with a snap in system that does not require fasteners,such as screws, to secure the vanity system to the visor body 42. Itshould be noted that the vanity 66 of the present invention may includefasteners and screws to secure it to the visor body 42.

It should be noted that the visor half shell 36,38 that holds andsupports the vanity 66 also may include a light base 80 secured thereto.In one contemplated embodiment the light base 80 is molded into one ofthe shells 36,38, such as the second shell 38 of the visor body 42. Thelight base 80 may include a pocket 82 therein which secures a circuitboard 70 therein to hold the circuit board 70 in a predetermined fixedposition with respect to the second shell 38 and the vanity 66. Thepocket 82 may be formed or molded into a predetermined inside surface ofthe second shell 38. The light base 80 in this embodiment has the pocket82 which in part is defined by a first and second guide member 84,wherein the first and second guide member 84 extends from an insidesurface of the second shell 38 and are parallel to each other. Each ofthe first and second guide members 84 may have an inward extendingflange 86 extending from a top end thereof. The flanges 86 may engagewith a top surface of the circuit board 70 to assist in securing thecircuit board 70 with relation to the vanity 66. The first and secondguide members 84 generally may have any known predetermined shape, butmay have a generally L shape when viewed from the front. The L shape maydefine a seat on each of the guide members 84 onto which the circuitboard 70 may rest or be seated. The seat portion of the guide member 84and the bottom surface of the inward extending flange 86 of the lightbase 80 may have a predetermined distance therebetween. Thispredetermined distance generally may be equal to or greater than thethickness of the circuit board 70 that is arranged therein. The lightbase 80 also may include a stop wall 88 arranged at a back end thereof.The stop wall 88 may extend in a predetermined direction away from theinside surface of the second shell 38 of the visor body 42. Duringoperation, the circuit board 70 may be slid within the front side of thepocket 82 of the light base 80 until one end of the circuit board 70engages the stop wall 88 of the light base 80. The light base 80 mayalso include a locking arm 90 arranged generally at a mid line of thepocket 82. The locking arm 90 may engage with a predetermined portion ofthe circuit board 70 and secure the circuit board 70 within the lightbase 80. The locking arm 90 generally may have a rectangular shape witha locking shoulder 92 arranged on the end thereof. One end of thelocking arm 90 may be molded directly into a surface of one of the halfshells 36,38 of the visor body 42. The other end may be moveable orflexible thus allowing for the locking arm 90 to pivot about the firstend which is fixed and molded into the visor body half shell. This mayallow for movement of the locking shoulder 92 and the locking arm 90 inorder to engage with a predetermined portion of the circuit board 70.The locking arm 90 may have a predetermined spring co-efficient whichmay allow for the locking arm 90 to securely hold the circuit board 70at a predetermined position with relation to the vanity 66.

The light base 80 may also include a gap or recess 94 formed between twopredetermined surfaces to form a wire routing channel for the circuitboard 70. The wire 58 may connect to one end of the circuit board 70 andon the other end to the electronic system of the vehicle, wherein thewire 58 may run through a predetermined area of the visor body 42 andthrough the pivot rod 32 into the electrical system of the vehicle. Thecircuit board 70 generally may have a rectangular shape, with apredetermined length, width and thickness. It should be noted that thecircuit board 70 may be of any known shape, but in the embodiment shownis a rectangular shape. Arranged on a top surface of the circuit board70 is an LED 64. It should be noted that the LED 64 may be of any type,color and any known shape. The LED 64 as shown in the drawings isgenerally a square LED 64. Electrical components 96 may be arranged onthe circuit board 70 and form the necessary circuitry for illuminatingthe LED 64 and passing such illuminated light 70 to a lens 74 and mirror60 of the vanity 66. The electronic components 96 may be, but are notlimited to, diodes, resistors, capacitors, integrated circuits or anyother known electrical component necessary to operate an LED 64, Itshould be noted that the LED 64 in the embodiment shown is securedwithin the light base 80, such that the circuit board 70 is parallel toan inside surface of the visor body 42. This in effect holds the circuitboard 70 in a horizontal position with relation to the visor body 42.The use of this embodiment of the light base 80 may provide for a directbulb replacement version of the LED lighted visor. This may allow forthe circuit board 70 and LED 64 to be positioned in generally the sameplace or area as the prior art bulb and socket which was used in priorart visor designs. Generally, no changes to the vanity sub assembly arerequired other than the molding of the light base 80 therein. It shouldbe noted that the circuit board 70 generally has the plurality ofelectronic components 96 arranged on a bottom surface thereof and on theopposite side of the LED 64, which may be arranged on a top surface ofthe circuit board 70. The circuit board 70 may also include a lockingmember 98 extending from the bottom surface, wherein the locking member98 may interact and inter-engage with the locking shoulder 92 of thelocking arm 90 of the visor body 42. It should be noted that the lightbase 80 and circuit board 70 may be arranged on each side of a vanity66. However, it is also contemplated to have a LED 64 arranged on onlyone side of the vanity 66 and it is even contemplated to use a LED 64 ononly one side of the vanity 66 and pass the light from that one LED 64via a light guide to both ends or sides of the mirror 60 of the vanity66.

Another embodiment of the visor 30 may include a light base 100 that isa separate component that is molded or formed separate from the visorbody half shells 36,38. In this embodiment, the light base 100 generallyhas a rectangular shaped body that includes a first and second railparallel 102 to one another on a bottom surface thereof. The rails 102generally have a circular shape and extend from the bottom corner edgeon each side thereof. The parallel rails 102 may have a predetermineddiameter, which may mate and inter-engage with a predetermined channelmolded onto one of the shells 36,38 of the visor 30. The light base 100may also include a first and second arm 104 with one of the armsextending from each side thereof near a mid portion of the light base100. The arms 104 generally may have any known shape, such as but notlimited to a semi-circular or semi-silo shape when viewed from above.The arm 104 may extend a predetermined distance from the side of thelight base 100. The arms 104 may have an angled surface on a top sidethereof. The light base 100 may also include a locking tab 106 extendingfrom a bottom surface thereof, wherein the locking tab 106 interacts andengages with a locking slot 108 arranged and molded within the shell 38.The locking tab 106 generally may extend between the first and secondparallel guide rails 102 and from the bottom surface of the light base100 such that the tab 106 generally has an arcuate shape extending froma bottom surface of the light base 100, wherein the locking tab 106extends a predetermined distance beyond a surface of the guide rails102. In one embodiment, the locking tab 106 is generally aligned along amid point of the first and second arms 104, which extend from a side ofthe light base 100. Arranged on one end of the light base 100 is a slot110. The slot 110 is formed, such that the circuit board 70 is placedwithin the slot 110 and secured in a predetermined position with respectto the second shell 38. The slot 110 is in part defined by a first andsecond leg 112 that extend from the light base 100. The first and secondleg 112 may each have a groove that has a generally square shapearranged at a mid point thereof. Each of the grooves arranged in thefirst and second leg 112 may be used to hold one edge of the circuitboard 70 arranged therein. A predetermined distance is arranged betweenthe first and second grooves, such that the predetermined distance isgenerally equal to the width of the circuit board 70. This may allow forthe circuit board 70 to be slid within the slot 110 arranged on thefront end of the light base 100 and securing the circuit board 70 to thelight base 100 via a locking snap member 114 arranged on a surface ofthe light base 100. The locking snap member 114 generally may bearranged near or on a surface near a mid point of the light base 100.Each of the arms 112 of the light base 100 may have a reinforcing rib116 extending from a bottom surface of the arm 112 to a surface of thelight base 100. The reinforcing ribs 116 generally may have a triangularshape when viewed from a side. The snap lock member 114 may be arrangedbetween the ribs 116 adjacent to a predetermined shaped cavity arrangedwithin an end of the light base 100. The predetermined cavity generallymay have any known shape, but generally has a rectangular or squareshape in the current embodiment. This may allow for the lock member 98extending from a bottom surface of the circuit board 70 to inter-engagewith the snap lock member 114 and hold the circuit board 70 in placewithin the light base 100 of the present invention. The snap lock member114 may have any known shape and in one embodiment it generally has atriangular shape and extends a predetermined distance from an end of thelight base 100 and a predetermined distance into the cavity that holdsthe lock member 98 of the circuit board 70. This may allow for theinteraction and engagement of the snap lock member 114 with the lockmember of the circuit board 70. It should be noted that the snap lockmember 115 is only one contemplated embodiment to secure the circuitboard 70 within the light base 100 and that any other known lockingfeature may be used to secure the circuit board 70 therein. The lightbase 100 of this embodiment may interact with a plurality of featuresthat are molded into an inner surface of one of the half shells 36,35 ofthe visor body 42. The second shell 38 may have a first, a second, athird and a fourth locking surface 118 molded therein. The lockingsurfaces 118 generally are defined as slightly angled surfaces moldedwithin one of the visor half shells 36,38. The surfaces 118 may beacross from one another and hence, form a predetermined sized gap. Thispredetermined sized gap may generally be the same or slightly greaterthan the thickness of one of the arms 104 of the light base 100. Thismay allow for the light base 100 to be slid through these gaps, suchthat the arms 104 interact with the first and second locking surfaces118, wherein the first locking surface 118 may create a force that maypush the first locking surface 118 down onto the arm 104 of the lightbase 100, while the second locking surface 118 may in effect push withan upward force onto the arm 104 of the locking surface 118, which ineffect may wedge the light base 100 into the half shell 38 via the arm104 extending from each side thereof. Therefore, the first and secondlocking surfaces 118 may be arranged on each side of the light base 100and formed within the visor half shell 38. The visor half shell 38 mayalso have molded therein a third and fourth locking surface 118. Thethird and fourth locking surface 118 generally may be defined by edgesor surfaces extending from predetermined flanges molded within the visorhalf shell 38. The third locking surface may inter-engage with one ofthe guide rails 102, while the fourth locking surface 118 mayinter-engage with the other of the guide rails 102 of the light base100. Therefore, the third and fourth locking surfaces 118 may bearranged near one another such that the gap therebetween may generallybe the same or greater than the diameter of one of the guide rails 102.It should also be noted that the third and fourth locking surfaces 118may be angled with relation to the guide rails 102, such that each ofthe guide rails 102 may be wedged between the third and fourth lockingsurfaces 118 that are molded into one of the visor half shells 38. Itshould be noted that generally all of the locking surfaces 118 orfeatures described herein are formed by flanges or channels moldeddirectly into the visor half shell 38. In operation, the light base 100described in this embodiment may be slid and locked into place withinthe visor half shell 38. The locking tab 106 may inter-engage with alocking slot 108 that is formed and molded into a surface of the secondshell 38 generally at a mid point of the light base 100. This may allowfor the light base 100 to inter-engage with the visor half shell 38 atfour points and be locked via one point, thus securing the light base100 in a predetermined position with relation to the visor half shell 38and vanity 66. After inserting and securing the light base 100 into thevisor half shell 38, a wire 58 may be connected between a surface of thecircuit board 70 and the electrical system of the vehicle. This mayallow for a direct replacement of the light bulb system of the prior artvisors.

Still another embodiment of the light base 120 may generally have thesame body, guide rails 102 and arms 104 as the light base 100 describedabove. This embodiment of the light base 120 may further include a firstslot 122 arranged along a transverse portion of a top surface of thelight base 120. The slot 122 may extend across the entire width of thelight base 120. The slot 122 may be used to secure and hold onelongitudinal edge of the circuit board 70. Directly adjacent to the slot122 on the top surface of the light guide 120 may be a locking member124 extending from a top surface thereof. The locking member 124 may bedirectly adjacent to the slot 122 and have a generally U-shape whenviewed from a front thereof. The locking member 124 may have a first andsecond leg 126 extending from a top surface of the light base 120 and across member 128 extending between the two legs 126. Generally, thefront of the locking member 124 may share the same plane as one of theinward extending surface walls of the slot 122. Each of the legs 126generally may have a triangular shape when viewed from a side, howeverany other shape may also be used. The locking member 124 may be of suchconstruction that there may generally be formed a rectangular orificethrough a center of the locking member 124. An electrical component orother locking member extending from a surface of the circuit board 70may be used to interact with at least one surface of the locking member124 of the light base 120. This may secure and hold the circuit board 70in a predetermined position with respect to the light base 120. A wire38 may be connected to the circuit board 70 on either side or end of thecircuit board 70. The top side of the circuit board 70 may have a LED 64secured thereto and in electrical communication with the electronics ofthe circuit board 70 and the electrical system of the vehicle. The lightbase 120 may also include a pocket 130 arranged adjacent to the slot 122on the side opposite that of the locking member 124. The pocket 130 mayextend a predetermined distance into the light base 120. The pocket 130generally has a rectangular shape when viewed from above. The slot 122of the alternate embodiment of the light base 120 generally may hold thecircuit board 70 in a vertical position with respect to the visor bodyhalf shell 38. This may allow for the LED 64 to be held in place in thevisor 30 in a vertical manner, thus allowing for the use of a lightguide 132 in conjunction with the vanity 66.

The light guide 132 may generally be of any known shape, but in theembodiment shown it has generally a modified pyramidal shape with agenerally circular bottom portion and a parallelogram type top portion.It should be noted that any known shape may be used for the light guide132 of the present invention. One end of the light guide 132 having thesmaller dimension generally may have a notch or cut out 134 arrangedtherein. The cut out 134 may be used to align with the LED 64 arrangedon the circuit board 70 of the present invention. The light guide 132having any known shape may be used in any known visor 30. The notch orcut out 134 is arranged on one edge of the light guide 132 and may haveany known shape, but is generally a square type cut out shape that maymimic the square shape of the LED 64 used herein. The LED 64 may shineits light directly in a head on manner into the edge or end of the lightguide 132, thus allowing for dispersion of the light evenly throughoutthe entire light guide 132. The use of the light guide 132 may providefor a warmer and more even appearance of the light through the lens 74of the vanity 66. The distribution of the light via the light guide 132may ensure no hot spot when compared to that from a regular light bulb.It should be noted that the LED 64 may touch or engage the light guide132 but it does not have to and that the vanity 66 may have one or morelights arranged therein. It is also contemplated to use a light guide132 that extends from both sides of the vanity 66, such that a light maybe emitted via one LED 64 onto both sides of a mirror 60 within a vanity66. However, it is also contemplated to use two separate light guides132, one arranged on each end of the vanity 66, along with a light base120 arranged on each end thereof to form the illuminating light for thevisor 30 according to the present invention. It should be noted that thelight guide 132 has a predetermined thickness and is made of any knownpredetermined material that is capable of producing the distribution ofthe light as required by the present invention. It should be known thatany known or unknown material may be used for the light guide and lightguide systems arranged herein. It should further be noted that the LEDor LED's 64 may be directly affixed or attached to the light guide 132at a predetermined position thereon, such as but not limited to, at thenotch 134, etc. The necessary electronics to operate the LED 64 directlyattached to the light guide 132 may be arranged between the LED 64 and apower source for the visor or vehicle. Generally, the light guide 132 ofthe present invention may be arranged within the visor vanity frame 50with a lens 74 arranged over a top surface thereof to protect the lightguide surface. The lens 74 may be of any known type or design. In onecontemplated embodiment the notch 134 of the light guide 132 may beapproximately four millimeters wide, however any other shape, width ornotch may be used for the input light area for the light guide 132. Thevanity frame 50 of the present invention may include a predeterminedshaped orifice therein that generally mimics the outer shape of thelight guide 132. The light guide 132 may then be held within the vanityframe 50 through a press fit by using crush ribs 136 at strategiclocations, such as on each corner end of the light guide 132. However,it should be noted that it is also contemplated to have the light guide132 slid into position or held in place via snaps or a staking operationto ensure that the light guide 132 remains fixed with respect to thevanity frame 50 and light base 120 which holds and secures the LED 64 inrelation to the light guide 132. Therefore, any of the knownmethodologies of holding such as a press fit, snap or staking may beused to hold the light guide 132 in position on one or both ends of thevanity frame 50, then the vanity frame 50 may have a lens 74 arrangedover a top of the light guide adjacent to the mirror 60 to provideillumination, for the user, of the mirror 60 via the LED light 64 andlight guide 132. It should also be noted that predetermined openings orpass-through 142 in ribs and other components of the visor half shell 38may be arranged therethrough in order to pass the wire 58 from theelectrical system of the vehicle to the circuit board 70 of the lightbase 120, wherein the circuit board 70 is being held in a verticalposition.

It is also contemplated in the LED visor vanity of the present inventionthat instead of using a lens 74 over either a light guide 132 or adirect replacement LED 64, that either may be covered by extending themirror 60 to the ends of the visor vanity frame 50 and eliminating anyof the adhesive on the bottom of the mirror 60. This may allow for thelight to shine directly through the mirror 60 and remove the need of theuse of a lens 74 to disperse the LED light in a predetermined manner.Furthermore, it is also contemplated that a grid 140 may be molded intothe vanity frame 50 in order to protect the light guide 132 or LED 64and disperse the light from the light guide 132 or LED 64 in apredetermined manner. It is contemplated that these grids 140 may be ofany known shape, such as a honey comb design, or arc lines with asupport arm design as shown in the drawings. Any of these molded grids140 or the extending of the mirror 60 while eliminating the tape on thebottom of the mirror may be used in conjunction with the LED system ofthe present invention. It should be noted that it is also contemplatedthat a map light 138 that may be arranged in the first or second shell36,38 of the visor body 42 may use a light emitting diode 64 and a lightbase 80 associated therewith according to the present invention toprovide a map light 138 for use by the user of the vehicle, wherein themap light 138 may be a separate lighting system from that of the vanitymirror lighting system described herein.

FIGS. 29 through 33 show an alternate embodiment of an LED visor 230according to the present invention. Like numerals indicate like parts.The visor 230 of the alternate embodiment may include visor half shells236 that may include other surfaces that receive and hold components ofthe sliding visor 230, such as but not limited a pivot rod, a D-ring, avanity, and covering material arranged over the visor body 242 tocomplete assembly thereof. The manner in which all of these componentsdescribed herein are connected to each other and the components used andformed in each of these components are generally the same as thosedescribed above. The visor body 242, being composed of a first halfshell 236 and a second half shell 238, may allow for a frameless vanity266 to be secured to the visor body 242, thus allowing for the vanity266 to be used by an occupant of the vehicle. In one contemplatedembodiment, one of the half shells, in this case the first half shell236, includes a vanity pocket 235 arranged in a predetermined topsurface of the first half shell 236. In one contemplated embodiment thevanity pocket 235 is arranged near one end of the visor half shell 236.However, the vanity pocket 235 may be arranged anywhere along the visorhalf shell surface. The vanity pocket 235 generally has a rectangularshape, although it should be noted that any other shape, including butnot limited to oval, circular, square, triangular, or any other shapemay be used to form the vanity pocket 235. The vanity pocket 235 may berecessed into the top surface of the visor first half shell 236 apredetermined distance. This distance may allow for all of thecomponents necessary to operate the vanity 266 to be arranged thereinand to form an aesthetically pleasing surface for the user of the visor230 within the vehicle. The vanity pocket 235 may include a plurality ofchannels formed therein. In one contemplated embodiment the vanitypocket 235 may include a first and second circuit board channel 249 forwhich a circuit board 270 may be arranged and secured therein for thevanity 266. The vanity pocket 235 may also include a wire harnesschannel 237 arranged along or near a top end of the vanity pocket 235.In one contemplated embodiment the wire harness channel 237 and thecircuit board channels 249 generally have a rectangular shape whenviewed from above. It should be noted that any other shaped channel maybe used for the channels described herein. The wire harness channel 237and the first and second circuit board channels 249 are connected to oneanother and generally form a C shape when viewed from above. It shouldfurther be noted that each of the circuit board channels 249 may includea projection member or finger 251 that extends a predetermined distancefrom an inside surface of each of the circuit board channels 249. Thesefingers 251 may be used to align and secure the circuit board 270 in apredetermined position with relation to the channel 249. Directlyadjacent to the first and second circuit board channel 249 may be afirst light guide channel and a second light guide channel 253. Thelight guide channel 253 generally may mimic the outer shape of the lightguide 232, which may be used within the visor 230 according to thepresent invention. In one contemplated embodiment the light guidechannel 253 may have a generally ovular partial shape or a semi circularshape depending on the design and outer edge shape of the light guide253 for the present invention. It should be noted that in onecontemplated embodiment the light guide channel 253 extends apredetermined distance from the bottom of the vanity pocket 235, but notas far as the circuit board channel 249 and wire harness channel 237.However, it is also contemplated to have all of the channels extend thesame distance from the bottom of the vanity pocket 235, such that thelight guide channel 253, circuit board channel 249, and wire harnesschannel 237 all extend the same distance from the bottom of the vanitypocket 235. Arranged between each light guide channel 238 and circuitboard channel 249 in one contemplated embodiment are a first and secondtriangular wedge member 255. These wedge members 255 may allow forproper positioning of the circuit board 270 with relation to the lightguide 232 such that the wedges may mimic one surface of the light guide232, thus allowing for the light guide 232 to be securely set within thelight guide channel 253 without any movement relative to the visor body242. It should further be noted that the vanity pocket 235 may include apredetermined angled surface that extends from the top surface of thefirst half shell 236 of the visor body down to the vanity pocket 235 inany known shape at any known angle.

Arranged within the vanity pocket 235 is a mirror 260. The mirror 260may have any known shape, such as generally rectangular with curved endsas shown or any other shape. The mirror 260 is generally made of glasswith the appropriate coating thereon, however it is also contemplatedthat the mirror 260 may be made from any other material, such asplastic, composite, natural material, etc. The mirror 260 is arrangedsuch that it is secured to the bottom surface of the vanity pocket 235via any known connecting methodology. Some of these methodologies may beadhesives, tape, hook and loop connectors, mechanical connectors or anyother known chemical or mechanical connecting methodologies. It shouldbe noted that the mirror 260 in one contemplated embodiment may have afirst and second clear end 247 arranged at each end thereof. The clearend portion 247 of the mirror 260 may be in any known shape, such as asemi circular or semi ovular shape shown in the drawings. The clear end247 may extend any distance from the end of the mirror 260 or may bepositioned anywhere on the surface of the mirror 260. However, it isalso contemplated to have no clear ends on the mirror 260 and/or to haveonly one clear end 247 on the mirror 260 depending on the designrequirement for the visor 230. The use of the clear ends 247 on themirror 260 may allow for light from a light guide 232, which isilluminated by an LED 264 arranged on the circuit board 270, toilluminate the vanity mirror 260 from underneath the mirror 260. Thismay allow for the light to pass through the clear ends 247 of the mirror260 thus illuminating the mirror 260 for the user of the vanity duringdarkness and at all other times. It should be noted that the shape ofthe clear ends 247 may be any known shape that is capable of passinglight therethrough to illuminate the vanity mirror 260 of the presentalternate embodiment. In use, the mirror 260 may be secured to thevanity pocket 235, such that the mirror 260 is arranged over a first andsecond light guide 232 which are arranged within a first and secondlight guide channel 253, which are adjacent to a first and secondcircuit board 270 that are arranged and secured within a first andsecond circuit board channel 249. The circuit boards 270 are connectedelectrically to the electrical system of the vehicle, via a wiringharness 258. The wiring harness 258 is arranged within the wire harnesschannel 237, and is connected to each circuit board 270 on one endthereof while the opposite end of the wiring harness 258 is connected tothe electrical system of the vehicle. As described above any type ofswitch may be used to control the power of the LED 264, such as aplunger switch, or a mechanical switch in which the user chooses to turnthe light on or off manually. As noted above, the light guide 232 may bearranged on each end of the vanity pocket 235, on just one end of thevanity pocket 235 or in no portion of the vanity pocket 235. The lightguide 232 as described above may be of any known shape, thickness andmay or may not be used in the present invention. The LED 264 is arrangedon the circuit board 270 and the circuit board 270 is connected to theelectrical system of the vehicle as described above in previousembodiments.

The alternate embodiment visor 230 may also include a door mountingpanel 231. The door mounting panel 231 or member may snap directly intothe first half shell 236 of the visor body 242. The door mounting panel231 generally has a rectangular shape with curved ends at each endthereof. This generally forms a wing like shape when viewed from above.The door mounting panel 231 generally has an S shape when viewed incross section. The door mounting panel 231 may include in onecontemplated embodiment a first and second orifice 257 therethrough forreceiving a door hinge 243 of a door 272 for the vanity 266. The orifice257 may be of any known shape, but generally is of a rectangular shapewhen viewed from above. In one contemplated embodiment, a first andsecond orifice 257 for the door hinges 243 are arranged through the doormounting panel 231. Generally, two door hinges 243 are arranged from atop surface of the door 272, one near or at an end thereof and the othernear or at the other end thereof. However, it should be noted that asingle door hinge 243 is contemplated to be used and also multiple doorhinges, i.e., more than two, are also contemplated to be used with thedoor mounting panel 231. The door mounting panel 231 may also includepanel snap or snap locking members 241 arranged from a bottom surface ofthe door mounting panel 231. The panel snap members 241 generally arerectangular in shape and include a triangular wedge at the end thereof.The triangular wedge may form a locking shoulder that may interact witha locking surface of the first visor half shell 236 according to thepresent invention. The locking shoulder of the panel snaps 241 may allowfor the door mounting panel 231 to be pushed through the substrateorifices and interengage therewith. The length of the door mountingpanel 231 generally extends almost the entire width of the vanity pocket235. In the embodiment shown it is a little less than the width of thevanity pocket 235, such that the vanity pocket 235 has an angled surfacethat tapers down towards the end of the door mounting panel 231. Aplurality of panel locking snaps 241 are arranged from a bottom surfacethereof. In the embodiment shown three multi sized snaps 241 arearranged along a first edge of the bottom surface of the door mountingpanel 231 and a single panel snap 241 is arranged along the oppositeedge of the door mounting panel 231. It should be noted that the firsthalf shell 236 has a plurality of locking slots or orifices 259 arrangedtherethrough. Generally, the locking slots 259 have a rectangular shapewhen viewed from above, however any other known shape may be used forthe locking slots 259. The locking slots 259 may be used to receive andsecure against a locking surface of the locking shoulder of the doormounting panel snap lock members 241, such that an interengagmentbetween the locking shoulder and locking slots occurs. The panel lockingsnaps 241 generally have a predetermined co-efficient of flexibilitythat may allow for the panel locking snap members 241 to bend in orderto interengage the locking shoulder thereof with the locking surface ofthe locking slot 259 in a snap type arrangement. The door mounting panel231 may also include a first and second door connector member 261. Thedoor connector members 261 generally may be arranged from a bottomsurface of the door mounting panel 231. The door connector member 261generally may have a first and second leg interconnected by a crossmember therebetween. The cross member may have a first and second pocketarranged in a top surface thereof, along with a smaller pocket arrangedthrough a surface thereof. The door connector member 261 may alsoinclude in a side surface of the cross member a spring pocket 245, whichmay be used to secure one end of a spring 239, for the door 272, withinthe spring pocket 245. It should be noted that the door connector member261 may also include a flange 263 extending from one of the legs thereofthat includes an orifice through a predetermined portion thereof. Thisorifice may be used to have a hinge 243 arranged therethrough in orderfor the door 272 to pivot about a predetermined axis between an open andclosed position over the mirror 260. In the embodiment shown, two doorconnector members 261 are arranged from the bottom surface of the doormounting panel 231. It should further be noted that the door mountingpanel 231 may also have the cross member formed as a solid memberwithout the pockets in the top surface thereof, with only the springpocket 245 arranged through a side surface of the cross beam of the doorconnector member 261. It should be noted that the door 272 may have anyknown dimensions and any known shape, such that it is a shape thatmimics the general shape of the vanity pocket 235, thus concealing themirror 260 thereunder during closure of the door 272 on the visor body242. As shown in the embodiment, it is generally ovular or a rectangularshaped wherein the door 272 has a predetermined indentation arranged ata bottom surface thereof for easy opening and closing of the door 272 bythe user of the vehicle. The door 272 may also include a first andsecond hinge 243 arranged off the top end of the door 272. It should benoted that any other number of hinges including one or more than two mayalso be used depending on the design of the visor 230 according to thepresent invention. The door hinge 243 may generally have a U shaped whenviewed in cross section. The door hinge 243 may include a dowel or pinarranged at one end thereof. This pin may be arranged through theorifice of the door connector member 261 arranged on each end thereofallowing for a pivot point, such that the door 272 may pivot about thehinge to allow for the door 272 to open to expose the mirror 260 forviewing and to close and shut the mirror 260 from viewing by the user ofthe vehicle. The door spring 239, as described above, generally has a Cor U shape when viewed from a side. The second end of the door spring239 may be engaged with a cam surface arranged on the door hinge 243near a generally center portion of the door hinge 243. This may allowfor the opening and closing of the door in a controlled and easy effortmanner without any extraneous noise. It should be noted that the doorspring 239 shown includes a split end on one end thereof. This split endmay have one portion of the split end engage with a top surface of thecam of the door hinge 243 and a second portion engaged with a bottomsurface of the cam of the door hinge 243. This split end for the doorspring 239 may allow for the easy opening and closing efforts along withreduced noise. It should be noted that the door spring 239 may be madeof any known material, but in one preferred embodiment is made of ametal material, however any other plastic, composite, or naturalmaterial may also be used. It is also contemplated to use any other typeof plastic, metal, ceramic, composite or natural material for any of theother parts herein. It should further be noted that it is alsocontemplated to use at least one cylindrical lock or alignment member265 extending from a bottom surface of the door mounting panel 231.These are generally arranged near each outer end of the door mountingpanel 231. The cylindrical lock members 265 generally may have a taperedhead that is capable of interengaging with a locking surface of thefirst half shell 236. The first half shell 236 may include a first andsecond cylindrical orifice 267 therethrough which may align with andinterengage with the cylindrical locking members 265 of the doormounting panel 231. It is also contemplated that one door connectingmember 261 may be used along with one hinge 243 arranged near a centerof the vanity pocket 235.

FIGS. 34 through 40 shows yet another alternate embodiment of a visor330 according to the present invention. Like numerals indicate likeparts. This alternate embodiment includes a first half shell 336 and asecond half shell formed together to create a visor body 342. The visorhalf shells may include many other surfaces that receive and holdvarious components of the visor 330, such as but not limited to a pivotrod, a D ring, a vanity 366, and covering material arranged over thevisor body 312 to complete assembly thereof, such as those describedabove. The visor 320 in this alternate embodiment may have a first halfshell 336 with a vanity pocket 335 arranged therein. The vanity pocket335 generally may have the overall outer shape of the vanity frame 351,which is used to connect the vanity 366 to the visor body 342. In theembodiment shown it is generally a rectangular shape with rounded edges.However, any other shape, such as a rectangle, square, circular, oval,triangular or any other known shape may be used for the vanity 366 andthe vanity pocket 355 described herein. The vanity pocket 335 may extenda predetermined distance from the top surface of the first half shell336. The vanity pocket 335 may also include a first and second circuitboard channel 353 and a first and second light guide channel 363arranged therein. The first and second channels 353, 363 generally arearranged near each outer end of the vanity pocket 325. In the embodimentshown the light guide channel 363 does not extend as far from the topsurface of the first half shell 336 as the circuit board channel 353. Asdescribed above the circuit board channel 353 generally has arectangular shape when viewed from above, and the light guide channel363 generally has a semi circular shape or D shape when viewed fromabove. The light guide 332 may be placed within the light guide channel363 such that the bottom surface of the light guide 332 interacts andengages with a top surface of the light guide channel 363 and it mayalign with the circuit board 370, which is placed and secured within thecircuit board channel 353, such that the LED light connected to thecircuit board 370 may illuminate the light guide 332 as described above.The outer periphery of the light guide 332 may mimic the periphery ofthe light guide channel 363, such that the light guide 332 does not movewith relation to the visor body 342. The generally same design asdescribed above for the circuit board 370 may also be used in thisembodiment, so that the circuit board 370 does not move within thecircuit board channel 353, thus ensuring proper alignment of the LED tothe light guide 332. In the embodiment shown for this alternateembodiment a wire harness channel is not used. However, it also may beincorporated into the present design depending on the designrequirements. Hence, the circuit board channels 353 are parallel to oneanother and each are arranged near an end or a predetermined distancefrom the actual end of the vanity pocket 335. The vanity pocket 335 mayalso include a flange or shoulder 357 arranged around an entire innercircumferential periphery thereof. A mirror flange 365 is arrangedadjacent to the flange 357. The mirror flange 365 generally may mimicthe outer shape of the mirror 360 and may allow for the outer edge ofthe mirror 360 to sit on the mirror flange 365 within the vanity pocket335. The flange 357 may be parallel to the top surface of the first halfshell 336. The flange 357 may include a plurality of locking slots 367arranged at predetermined intervals around the entire peripherycircumference of the vanity pocket flange 357. Generally, these lockingslots 367 may be rectangular when viewed from above, however any othershaped locking slot may be used and any number of locking slots may alsobe arranged in any known manner around the vanity pocket flange 357.

The visor 330 also includes a vanity frame 351. The vanity frame 351generally may have a rectangular shape with curved ends. This shape maymimic the outer shape of the vanity pocket 335 and hence may be anyknown shape. The vanity frame 351 may also include at least one, but inthe embodiment shown, two slots 369 through which a door hinge may beattached thereto. Hence, the top portion of the vanity frame 351 may bewider than the two side portions and bottom portion of the vanity frame351. Extending from a bottom surface of the vanity frame 351 may be aplurality of mirror frame snap or lock members 355. The mirror framelock snap members 355 generally may be rectangular with a wedge ortriangular shape end thereon. The triangular shape end may form alocking shoulder for the mirror frame locking snap 355. This lockingshoulder may interengage with a locking surface arranged through thelocking slots 367 of the vanity pocket flange 357. Hence, the lockingshoulder may interengage with a bottom surface of the vanity pocketflange 357 to secure the vanity frame 351 to the visor body 342. Itshould be noted that the mirror frame locking snaps 355 may be arrangedin any known pattern around the outer circumference of the vanity frame351. The mirror frame locking snaps 355 may align with and interengagewith the locking slots 367 arranged through the vanity pocket flange 357as described above. The mirror frame locking snaps 355 may have anyknown width and length. In the embodiment shown a total of twelve vanitymirror frame locking snaps 355 are arranged at predetermined positionsaround the vanity frame 351. Hence, the number of locking slots 367 isthe same as the number of locking snaps 355 and the locking slots 367are arranged through the first half shell 336. Arranged from the widertop portion of the vanity frame 351 maybe a first and second doorconnector member 361. The door connector members 361 are generally thesame as those described above for the other embodiments. Hence, the doorconnector members 361 may have a generally circular channel that iscapable of receiving a pin of the hinge of the door 372 such that thedoor 372 may be pivotally connected to the door connector member 361 andhence to the visor body 342. It should be noted that the first halfshell 336 may have a first and second orifice that generally have arectangular shape when viewed from above, which may allow for the firstand second door connector member 361 to extend therethrough. This mayallow for the vanity frame 351 to snap in and be connected and securedto the visor body 342. It should be noted that this snap in system mayallow for easy installation of the vanity 366 into the visor 330 of theautomotive vehicle. In the embodiment shown an electrical connector 359is arranged adjacent to one of the door connector members 361 andsecured via any known connecting methodology to an inside surface of thefirst visor half shell 359. The electrical connector 359 is thenconnected to an electrical system of the vehicle and connected to thecircuit boards 378 electrically such that power is provided to the LEDsfor providing a lighted and illuminated mirror 360 for the visor 330. Itshould be noted that the mirror 360 generally is the same as the mirrordescribed above in that it might have two clear ends on each endthereof, one clear end on an end thereof or no clear ends, depending onthe design requirements for the vanity 366. It should further be notedthat the vanity frame 351 also may include a mirror flange 371 arrangedaround an inner periphery of the vanity frame 351. The mirror flange 371generally may have an oval shape or a rectangular shape with curved endsto mimic the inner diameter of the inner circumference of the vanityframe 351. The mirror flange 371 generally maybe parallel to a topsurface of the first half shell 336. The mirror flange 371 may in partbe used to secure the mirror 360 within the visor body 342. In onecontemplated embodiment the mirror 360 may be held in place and securedwithin the visor body 342 mechanically by the mirror flange 371 of thevanity frame 351 engaging with and securing the mirror 360 within thevanity pocket 335 of the first half shell 336. Hence, the bottom of themirror 360 may be arranged and in contact with a surface of the vanitypocket 335 while the mirror 360 is also in contact with the mirrorflange 371, which may be arranged along an inner periphery of the vanityframe 351. Hence, when the vanity frame 351 is snapped into the visorfirst half shell 336, it may in turn secure the mirror 360 in positionwith relation to the light guide 332, circuit board 370, door 372 andvisor body 342. It should be noted that all of the components, exceptfor the door spring 339, may be made of a plastic material, however anyother metal, ceramic, composite or natural material may also be used forany of these components. The same may also apply for the door spring,which may be made of any known metal, plastic, ceramic, composite ornatural material. It should further be noted that the door 372 and doorhinge system generally are the same as those described above for theother alternate embodiment. The vanity frame locking snap 355 in oneembodiment generally may have four locking snaps 355 arranged atpredetermined positions along the first long edge and second long edgeand two locking snaps 355 generally arranged at a predetermined positionon the shorter length edges of the vanity frame 351. However, any othernumber of locking snap members 355 may also be used and in any type ofset up or positioning.

Therefore, in operation, the two alternate embodiments of the visor maybe easier to manufacture and easier to have the vanities installedtherein via the snap in locking systems deployed in both the framelessvanity and the locking vanity frame embodiments. Such easy installationof the vanities within the visor bodies may reduce manufacturing timeand reduce the overall costs for the manufacturer while also allowingthe reduction in costs of materials as the clear ends of the mirror mayallow for the removal of lens and the associated hardware to connectlens to be arranged over the light guides or LEDs of the presentinvention.

The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. Itis to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intendedto be in the nature of words of description rather than that oflimitation.

Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possiblein light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of theappended claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise thanas specifically described.

What is claimed is:
 1. A visor for use in a vehicle, said visorcomprising: a pivot rod; a first and second shell being engageable toform a visor body; a vanity pocket formed within said first shell; amirror arranged within said vanity pocket; a door mounting panel securedto and in contact with said first shell at a top portion of said vanitypocket, said door mounting panel having a door connector member arrangedfrom a bottom surface thereof; a door pivotally connected to said doorconnector member; a circuit board arranged within a first channel ofsaid vanity pocket, said first channel extends a predetermined distancefrom a bottom of said vanity pocket; a light guide arranged adjacent tosaid circuit board, said light guide arranged in a second channel ofsaid vanity pocket, said second channel extends a predetermined distancefrom said bottom of said vanity pocket, said light guide positionedunderneath an end of said mirror; and a light emitting diode secured toa surface of said circuit board.
 2. The visor of claim 1 furthercomprising a wire harness channel arranged within said vanity pocket,said door mounting panel having a generally S shape when viewed in crosssection.
 3. The visor of claim 2 further comprising at least one wireelectrically connected to said circuit board, said wire arranged withinsaid wire harness channel.
 4. The visor of claim 1 wherein said doormounting panel having a plurality of locking snaps extending from saidbottom surface thereof, said vanity pocket having a positioning memberarranged between said first channel and said second channel.
 5. Thevisor of claim 4 wherein said first shell having a plurality of lockingslots through a surface thereof.
 6. The visor of claim 5 wherein saidlocking slots interengage with said locking snaps to secure said doormounting panel to said first shell.
 7. The visor of claim 1 furthercomprising a door spring arranged between a spring pocket of said doormounting panel and a door hinge of said door, said door mounting panelhaving a generally wing like shape.
 8. The visor of claim 1 wherein saidmirror having a clear end on both ends thereof.
 9. The visor of claim 1wherein said mirror is secured to said vanity pocket by an adhesive,tape, or hook and loop connector.
 10. The visor of claim 1 furthercomprising a wedge member arranged between said first channel and saidsecond channel.
 11. The visor of claim 1 wherein said door mountingpanel having a generally rectangular shape with curved ends.
 12. Thevisor of claim 1 wherein said door mounting panel having a first andsecond orifice or notch.
 13. The visor of claim 1 wherein said doormounting panel having an alignment member extending from said bottomsurface.